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The Mummer's Dance Lyrics

Artist: Loreena McKennitt
Album: The Book Of Secrets

When in the springtime of the yearWhen the trees are crowned with leavesWhen the ash and oak, and the birch and yewAre dressed in ribbons fair.

When owls call the breathless moonin the blue veil of the nightWhen shadows of the trees appearamidst the lantern('s) light.

We've been rambling all the nightand sometime of this dayNow returning back againwe bring a garland gay.

Who will go down to those shady grovesand summon the shadows thereAnd tie a ribbon on those sheltering armsin the springtime of the year.

The sounds of birds seem to fill the woodand when the fiddler playsAll their voices can be heardlong past their woodland days.

We've been rambling all the nightand sometime of this dayNow returning back againwe bring a garland gay.

And so they linked their hands and danced'round in circles and in rowsAnd so the journey of the night descendswhen all the shades are gone.

A garland gay we bring you hereAnd at your door we standHere's a sprout, well budded outThe work of our Lord's hand.

We've been rambling all the nightand sometime of this dayNow returning back againwe bring a garland gay.

Comments/Interpretations

by Michelle on 5/30/2008 1:10pmI LOVED this song the first time I heard it! I didn't understand the meaning, but, felt a crazy amount of feeling behind the artists voice as well through the music. Reading the lyrics now, it makes sense. This song nurtures my spirit, and few songs have done that in my life. Maybe it's because I'm a Taurus and we are known to be "earthy". Beautiful work, thank you for this song :) Now I know the name of the Artist and title of the song and will buy the CD; probably all her CD's. What a lovely voice and the instrumentals are unique and powerful :)

by Koos on 6/6/2008 12:54pmI could not have said it better, even being a Scorpio. This is one of those rare songs, that never stop to amaze and touch me, no matter how often I hear it. Great! And Michelle, I think you would want to listen to a more recent song: Caravanserai - from the Ancient Muse CD (if you haven't found it already). You'll problably like that one as much as I do. It's also on a video (to be found at youtube, amongst others). It was recorded in the Spanish Alhambra, while Loreena was performing there with her band. I sure wish I could have been there that night... Amazing!

by X-Kuba-File on 6/30/2008 4:31pmis a super songs !! i love you loreena !!

by Kathy on 6/30/2008 8:59pmWow, I love this song! I first found it on animerequiem.com a year or two back on one of their radioblog playlists. This has so much personal meaning for me and, in a way only I can understand -also made me SMARTER ! This combined with two of her other songs; Dantes Prayer (beautiful!) and The Lady of Shallott. Loreena McKennit possesses such a beautiful, strong voice.... Its amazing!The lyrics are so fitting; mythical in a way. The tune of the songs and etc, the beat- it draws on in.

by tek_tercih@hotmail.com on 7/5/2008 10:41ami love u loreena

by Virga on 7/5/2008 9:14pmI can't think of a better voice or music to sit down with at the end of a tough day and just be relaxed a recharged.

by Dannie on 7/7/2008 10:13pmThis is a lovely and powerful set of lyrics celebrating the renewal of life and the earth. The imagery is vivid and evocative. My fiance and I are using this song for our first dance at our wedding reception this August. This and all of the literature themed songs rank at the top of my personal cannon of favorite music.

by Bronwynn on 7/9/2008 10:46pmAll of her songs are beautiful and inspiring. In this song, she is singing about Beltane/May Day. May Day is known best for the Maypole which was dressed up in ribbons and such, and everyone would dance around it.

by Elendil on 7/22/2008 2:38pmHey! loreena is such an amazing artist, I find her quite misterious, deep. I wish there were more people like her.I respect her Respect for nature and life. I really relate to her, cause i just like to stand still feeling the cold air passing through my fingers, or listening ton her heavenly music. Drowns me in emotions. Makes me smile unconxiously, and love everything. I really admire you Loreena :)!

by Cris on 8/4/2008 8:58pmThis song is so beautiful. It seems to touch your soul some how. I have been looking for this song for along time. I first heard it on the Ever After movie. I finally tracked it down. It makes you want to get back to nature and to basics. We getso busy in life that we miss all of lifes simple beautys.

by tomwelch1963@hotmail.com on 9/13/2008 1:41amI work a late shift, and ride my motorcycle to work through the countryside at night often with a mist over the countryside under the moon. I like listening to this song on my IPOD at that time because it really fits the setting. Another interesting song I listen to in the morning coming home is "A Raft Of Penguins" by Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull fame. I love the new agey stuff!

by Sara on 9/24/2008 9:49pmjust undescribable

by Chelsea on 10/11/2008 2:11amWhen ever i hear tis song, it's so insporational. i feel like i can do anything. it just so happens that i'm in choir and i absolutly love singing this song. Plus i love the movie that this song is from, Ever After. It's one of my favorite movies!!!

by PJ on 11/23/2008 8:46amALl the celtic spirit in one song...mystical and speechless...this song is incredible..every time i listen to this song, i'm entering in another world !

by Bella on 12/24/2008 10:38pmWhen I first heard this song, I thought it was the most beautiful song ever. I bought a three-pack of Celtic CDs and just adored it. Loreena McKennitt has a beautiful voice that seems to be perfectly made for this song. As the future wife of a Wicca, this song touches us both.

by Oak on 1/21/2009 12:50amThis song summs up my love for Wicca -the Mother Goddess is truly a blessing. Blessed Be to you all

by Robin Litchfield on 1/27/2009 7:25pmAbsolutely love this song!!!

by Joe on 2/8/2009 11:05amThe first time I heard this song was when it came on the radio as I was driving one day on the highway as I was looking ahead at the most beautiful sky scenery I have ever seen; The sun was setting behind the clouds with purple and orange and i felt like I was driving straight into it. Together with this song blasting in my car made it one of the most spiritual couple minutes of my life. Thak you Loreena.

by Enigma on 2/16/2009 5:24amWow, this song is so... atmospheric!

by P.Took on 3/1/2009 7:50amThis is beatiful song. I can't stop listening this song. I know only one so good song: Rebecca Lavelle "Common Ground".

by Ashley on 3/26/2009 10:22pmI love this song! It reminds me so much of my favorite book "The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley. If you like this song, you will definitely like this book. I highly suggest it!!

by Mark on 3/30/2009 6:32pmOne round of this song sets a magical mood....when repeated several times over the day is enlightening!

by Mark on 3/30/2009 6:52pmOh I really love new age music. I also suggest to try out Ken Davis instrumentals, all album of Enya, water is wide by Charlotte church, snow on the sahara by anggun......these music echoes in your soul!strikes the chord in one's mystic spirit.

by Vajra on 4/23/2009 3:11pmThis song really brings out the pagan in me..

by Vaibhav Bhalerao on 5/17/2009 12:39amI am surprised how one can create such beautiful song.The song touched my soul such amazingly that no words can describe it.

by Drystin on 6/13/2009 6:57pmthis song is so beautiful and it makes me feel so tranquil.

by kih_oskh on 6/22/2009 8:33am'til there will be such words and music, shall i retain my faith in humanity...

by James on 8/4/2009 11:17amIf you are interested in the traditions surrounding The Mummers, look them up, folks; it's an interesting history.

by 'sufiana' on 9/15/2009 4:58amloreena is simply awesome! try out her 'beneath a phrygian sky' from her album the ancient muse.. all of her music is so deep, touching, mystical n immensely spiritual.. they simply flow down to the very core of your heart.. its amazing inthe way her music can transform you to a different world and make you realsie of some of the intense experiences of your life..

by EgyptianAngel on 10/23/2009 3:13pmI adore Loreena McKennitt. This song is one of her best. I also highly recommend 'All Souls Night' and 'The Highwayman' both by Loreena McKennitt. I also highly recommend Celtic Woman and Enya.

by Juliana on 11/23/2009 7:39pmIt is the best song in the world! I love all of her songs too! The amount of feeling that I get from that song is incredible!

by oudib on 1/19/2010 10:02amloreena is for sure the best she is making a very good music that goes directly to heart and to the soul and no commercial on it s music it s eternel we love we apreciat a lot marrakesh night market cause i ve been their and i feel the song on lestning going directly to my heart thank very much i love you i hope to see you at marrakesh

by Javaman on 2/14/2010 6:39pmI'd been searching for this song for years - trying to find out who the artist was and the name of the piece. Then by chance I was visiting my sister for a Superbowl get-together...and this song was playing on her stereo! I was stunned to speechlessness at having finally found it. She lent me the CD's and DVD from "Nights of the Alhambra" and have been listening and watching most of the weekend. Her voice and music are in a word, incredible. Kih_oskh is right. So long as people are capable of creating this kind of beauty there is indeed hope for humanity.

by skyblue on 2/26/2010 12:54pmHer songs have touched my heart,they will blow u way

by Southernbear on 3/19/2010 9:07pmI remember when this song came out years ago, it was and always will be paralyzing to me. The music completely fills me. It is as if an old soul was trying to reach me. incredible.

by Tom Maher on 4/3/2010 1:28pmLoreena Mckennitt sings like an angel. Her voice is so pleasing and nice, the lyrics are priceless, and the words are meaningful. I am happy to now have the lyrics and be able to hear the song over and over.

by Bathiya Angammana on 11/11/2010 12:58amThis is one song that will never leave me..... its simply a charm....

by Scramman on 8/22/2011 6:59amThis is one of my 2 favorite songs, the other being Lakme's Flower Duet. I hope they are the last 2 songs I hear before I go to the great beyond.

by Jeff on 8/26/2011 6:55amI work at BestBuy in the TV & Audio-Video Sales Department and I use this song or "Stay or Leave" by Dave Mathews & Tim Reynolds when I want to demonstrate what High Performance Audio equipment can do. Loreena's voice is awesome, what a gifted singer!

by lmo on 1/5/2012 12:24pmwhen I first heard this song I thought what she's doing is bringing everone into her world and sharing with us a little peice of magic that can only come from such a talented lady, her band is a perfect compliment to her voice

by bill on 1/14/2012 5:46pmILU loreena thank you for your lovely music, pagan worship of trees is still very much alive, peace & balance xo

by Reyfam on 2/17/2012 7:47pmHow lucky I am to come lately to Loreena. Sometimes it pays to be old and slow and oput of touch. There are benefits.

P.s. Now go listen to "Night Ride Across The Caucasus"! Wow

by servantofearth on 6/13/2012 3:58pmBeautiful song. Makes me cry everytime I hear it and my heart sinks. Great cultural mixtures and instruments. Beautiful voice. all around great song.

by BB on 7/20/2012 11:48amI've heard this song before but could find the artist or the album or even the name of the song till I heard it on radio a couple of days back.. then I've been surfing net determined to find it.. there I found it!! Such a beautiful and energetic song.. would uplift my energies any time of the day!! Thank you Loreena!! Im gonna listen to all of ur tracks now!!

by Nic on 9/18/2012 11:33pmThis song is so beautiful!!! Lyrics are rich and meaningful, unlike some of the "junk" we have on radio nowadays. Love love love this song! Love her!

by Rich on 10/10/2012 6:15pmFor all of you who've made these great comments and appreciate REAL music; try listening to "Cristifori's Dream" by David Lanz. Even though there are countless pianos pieces out there that are worthy or praise; listen to this song, if it doesn't resonate with your spirit, then nothing will. Rich

by Diana on 10/29/2012 11:00pmLove the song and I miss the TV series "Legacy" I always looked forward to hearing it in the opening credits:)

by Cassandra on 12/26/2012 9:06amMe too people! I am always touched so deeply by this song and even though I've been listening to it for years, I wanted to actually read the lyrics tonight on Christmas. Beautiful and it makes sense that it would reach my soul because I'm a pantheist. Peace out!

by Diver on 1/18/2013 10:54amVery very and one more time very nice song.

by Ridly on 2/2/2013 6:33pmI agree with Koos. This is one of those rare songs that is empowering but still beautiful. I love you Loreanna!!!

by Josephine on 3/19/2013 8:13amThis is a beautiful song. I've loved since the moment I heard it, and I will probably still be listening It when I am old. I ❤Loreana❕

by Josephine on 3/19/2013 8:18amThis is a beautiful song. I've loved since the moment I heard it, and I will probably still be listening It when I am old. I ❤Loreana❕

by Tia on 5/18/2013 10:43pmI've been listening to Loreena's songs litterally since I was born and it always has that mystical touch to it. Today I asked my mom what her favorite songs were from loreena and.me and her said the same songs at the same time and we both turn to eachother and laugh I'm so glad loreena is here in life listening to hurt returns my faith in humanity